Williamson Act Updates

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BACKGROUND

Following an audit by the California Department of Conservation (DOC) in 2002, the Board of Supervisors directed County staff to create a definition of commercial agricultural use and criteria for evaluating new and existing Williamson Act contracts. They also requested creation of a stakeholder group to provide comments to staff on proposed criteria and policies developed by staff. The stakeholder committee, representing the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau, Santa Clara County Cattleman’s Association, Mt. Hamilton Range Improvement Association, Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, The Nature Conservancy, and the Committee for Green Foothills, met from September 2005 through April, 2006 and provided valuable suggestions for the proposed Williamson Act Program changes.

A number of meetings provided an opportunity for public comment on the proposed Williamson Act Program improvements. Based on input from the stakeholder committee, DOC and the public, staff developed proposed Program Guidelines and Ordinances that were ultimately approved and adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

Public Meetings (Oct. 3, 2005 and Oct. 4, 2005)Public information meetings on the proposed County Williamson Program changes were held in South County on 10/3/05 at the Morgan Hill Cultural and Community Center and in North County on 10/4/05 at the County Government Center in San Jose.

HLUET Meeting (Oct. 5, 2005)The Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation (HLUET) Committee of the Board of Supervisors held a public meeting on October 5, 2005 to consider the proposed Williamson Act Program changes.

Board of Supervisors Meeting (January 24, 2006)On January 24th, the Board of Supervisors continued their deliberations/action on proposed changes to the County’s Williamson Act program until March 14, 2006.

Public Information Meeting (March 6,2006)A Public Information Meeting was held on March 6th in the Board Chambers on the proposed Program changes.

Board of Supervisors Meeting (March 14, 2006)On March 14, 2006, the Board of Supervisors reviewed proposed changes to the County’s Williamson Act Program and the Board approved the following Guidelines:

The Board also approved a sample Joint Management Agreement that could be used by eligible owners of contracted properties that are substandard in size when jointly used and managed for agricultural use.

In addition, the Board directed Staff to prepare a report for discussion at the mid-year Budget Workshop on May 17, 2006 regarding Williamson Act Program staffing and fee financial impacts.

Board of Supervisors Meeting (May 17, 2006)The Board accepted information regarding the recommended budget for County Williamson Act Program implementation, and continued its discussion until the Department of Planning and Development Budget Hearings.

Planning Commission Workshop (June 1, 2006)Staff conducted a Workshop with the Commission on the approved Williamson Act Program changes.

South County Joint Planning Advisory Committee (June 8, 2006)Planning Staff made a presentation on the adopted Williamson Act Program Guidelines and Ordinance at the regularly scheduled Advisory Committee meeting in Morgan Hill.

Board of Supervisors Meeting (June 13, 2006)The Board adopted a resolution establishing fees for development services related to Williamson Act contracts and Open Space Easement (OSE) Agreements, with modifications to the originally proposed fee schedule.

Board of Supervisors Meeting (June 16, 2006)The Board accepted information related to the fee schedule considered on June 13, 2006 and approved a Fee Schedule (effective 8/15/06) for the Williamson Act and OSE Programs.

South County Realtors Association, Santa Clara Association of Realtors Meeting(June 20, 2006)Staff provided a two hour training session for over 100 local realtors on the County's Williamson and OSE Programs.

The County is currently in the process of reviewing the annual Agricultural Preserve Questionnaires returned by property owners to determine Williamson Act compliance. Noncompliant parcels will be nonrenewed by the County according Government Code Section 51245 with the opportunity to formally protest the nonrenewal.

HLUET, Board of Supervisors agendas, and Williamson Act Program staff reports are available on the Santa Clara County home page (go to www.sccgov.org, then under the heading “Connect with your Elected Officials”, click on "Board Agendas" or "Board Committee Agendas" and then on the relevant meeting date).